Hybrid Learning

School Reopening Schedule

Families choose whether to opt for in-person instruction or continue in distance learning.

Elementary and Special Education Hybrid learning

November 2020: Students K-12 served in Integrated Learning Center (ILC) and Community Based Services (CBS)
March 11, 2021: Pre-K, Kindergarten, grade 1, and students K-12 in our Intensive Academic Center (IAC)
March 22, 2021: Grades 2 and 3
April 1, 2021: Grades 4 and 5

Middle and High School hybrid learning

April 19, 2021: All middle and high school grades will begin hybrid learning for those who choose it.

In the secondary hybrid model, students will attend school in person two days per week, rotating through classes in a three-period day. They will learn from home on the three days of the week they are not at school. For more details, please go to Secondary Instructional Model.

Families will receive a commitment form to choose whether their students will return in person or stay fully remote. The deadline to respond is March 25.

To learn more about the hybrid option, join a family information session on Monday, March 22 at 9:00 a.m. or 5:00 p.m.

Public health guidance on returning to schools

Our primary guidance is the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Decision Tree for schools. (This information presented below in an ADA-accessible format.) Key data points are:

Number of of positive cases/100,000 residents/14 days
Test positivity rate
Trend in cases or hospitalization rates

Highline’s current status is found here and updated at least weekly.

Washington State Department of Health Guidance for In-Person Learning

Washington State Department of Health Guidance for In-Person Learning

COVID-19 High Activity

More than 350 cases per 100,000 in a 14 day period
Test positivity greater than 10%
Consider trends in cases and hospitalizations

REcommended Education Modality:

Phase in in-person learning in groups of 15 or fewer students for pre-K through grade 5 and those with highest needs
Prioritize Pre-K through grade 3, and students in any grade with disabilities, students living homeless, or those farthest from educational justice
If schools can demonstrate the ability to limit transmission in the school environment, add grades 4-5

COVID-19 Moderate Activity

Between 50 and 350 cases per 100,000 in a 14 day period
Test positivity between 5 and 10%
Consider trends in cases and hospitalizations

recommended Education Modality:

Prioritize elementary (Pre-K through grade 5) if they are not already receiving in-person learning and middle school
If schools can demonstrate the ability to limit transmission in the school environment, add more high school students when case rates are below about 200 cases per 100,000 people in a 14 day period.

COVID-19 Low Activity

Fewer than 50 cases per 100,000 in a 14 day period
Test positivity between 5 and 10%
Consider trends in cases and hospitalizations

recommended educationa modality:

Provide in-person learning for all students

Source: Washington State Department of Health

Scheduling FAQs

SECONDARY: When will grades 6-12 start hybrid learning?

SECONDARY: How do students opt in to hybrid learning and what is the deadline?

SECONDARY: What will be different about secondary schedules in hybrid learning?

Our secondary hybrid model was developed to have minimal impact on the master schedule and teacher/student assignments. Maintaining the schedule prioritizes relationships and mental health interests. Secondary students will be in school buildings 2 days per week for live in-person instruction. Three days per week will be fully remote at home.

Students will be placed in either an A or B cohort that determines which days they attend in person.

Cohort A: Mon/Tues in person
Cohort B:Thurs/Fri in person

Wednesday will be a remote learning day for all and the schedule will look similar to what it is now.

ELEMENTARY: What is the schedule for in-person instruction?

ELEMENTARY: Why are hybrid students only in person for 2.25 hours a day?

When selecting a model for hybrid learning, we considered two different schedules: two full days each week or four partial days (AM/PM). Based in part on teacher and principal feedback, the half-day model was chosen for elementary school students.

In the AM/PM model, students have more consistent contact with their teachers (almost daily, as opposed to five days without contact.) Teachers can use in-person time to prepare students for the remote work they will complete in the next 24 hours. If students have questions, they can receive real-time in-person support from their teacher the next school day.

The AM/PM model has the same amount of instructional time as the two-full-day model. (In AM/PM, students are at school for fewer minutes because they don't have lunch or recess on site.)

AM/PM session times are based on the contracted teacher workday (8:45 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.) and the need for time between cohorts for transporting students and cleaning classroom surfaces.

Once we choose hybrid or remote, are we locked into that or can we change models later?

We had to build elementary classes based on the number of students returning for in-person learning, so accommodating changes will be challenging. There may be limited opportunity to change from one model to the other depending on space in the classroom.

If elementary or secondary families change their minds after commiting to hybrid or distance learning, they will have the option to request a change through the district change in assignment request process.

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